“Our Nation enshrines the presumption of innocence for a reason,” he said in a news release. “I look forward to having my day in court, where I am confident that I will ultimately be vindicated. Now is the time I must work to that end.”

Halloran is accused of accepting $18,000 in bribes in exchange for promising to steer city money to a sham contractor. After his arrest at the beginning of April, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn effectively neutered Halloran, taking away his committee assignments and barring him from allocating city money.

I urge Council Member Halloran to think hard about whether he should go further and step down immediately. The constituents of his district deserve to have a Council Member who is full time, 100 percent focused on representing them. Clearly, with the outrageously unacceptable allegations that are pending, both as they relate to the federal indictment and to recent allegations of sexual harassment, he is far from 100 percent focused on his constituents.